Package of trays



March 27, 1951 SOLOMON 2,546,875

PACKAGE OF TRAYS Filed Oct. 6, 1949 AJ-J \&

INVENTOR NHTHQN L. SOLOMON ATTORN EY Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNFTED STATES .ZEATENT GFFlCE PACKAGE or TRAYS Nathan L. Solomon, Englewood, N. J.

Application ()cteher 6, 1949, Serial No. 119,826 13 Claims. (01. 20c65) This invention relates to an article of manu facture comprising a tray-like member disposed upon a mounting, wherein a plurality of articles are supported in the member and held against displacement from the tray by means engaging said mounting. More particularly, the invention deals with an article of the character described, wherein the tray-like member is divided centrally into separate compartments and the intermediate wall is shaped to form means in connection with which the articles operate to perform a function or operation on the article such, for example, as the spreading of bobby-pins.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention. are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a pair of the trays coupled together.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing two pairs of trays.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container with part of the construction broken away; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification.

In the drawing, I have shown an article of manufacture in the form of a tray-like member Ii] disposed upon a suitable mounting I! and a number of these articles are adapted to be as sembled in nested relationship to each other to form pairs and one pair nests with adjacent pairs in forming an assemblage of a dozen or more articles in a container, such as indicated at E2 in. Fig. 4 of the drawing. By virtue of the construction and assemblage of thearticles in pairs, they may be conveniently packed in a rectangular container, such as l 2, and the only necessity is to fill opposed corner portions I3, I3 of the container with corrugated or other filling, as will be apparent.

Returning now to the structure of each article, this is shown in detail in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and a modified form of construction in Fig. 5. As each article of manufacture is of the same structure, the brief description of one will apply to all articles. The tray member I5 has upstanding peripheral side and end walls I 4 and I5, respectively, the side walls being joined by a central partitioning portion I6, comprising spaced wall portions I1, I1 which form, intermediate the side walls I4, a large opening I8. The walls H, ll

have inwardly set upper portions I9, Iii integrally joined in an upwardly extending relatively wide bevelled or contraction portion 2Q, terminating in a sharp upper edge 2 l. The walls I l, I1", I52, I9 have large rectangular openings therein, as indicated at 22 and these openings form shallow central portions of the walls Il, ll, as indicated by the surfaces 23. The end walls 2' are also provided with recesses it forming surfaces 25, somewhat similar to the surfaces 23. It will be apparent that the portion 229 is of less depth than the depth of the tray, thus leaving shoulder portions 26 on the tray at ends of the portion 20.

The mounting card I I is secured to the bottom of the tray. The card proper is of a width corresponding to the width of the tray or, in other words, side edge portions 2'I of the card are in alinement with outer surfaces of the walls I5, and one end 23 of the card is in alinement with one of the walls It. The card has an extension beyond the other wall I4 which is of a width similar to the distance between the outer surfaces of the walls I l so as to receive a companion article of manufacture or the tray portion or member thereof.

The card II has two elongated apertures 29, 29, one disposed beneath and registering with the opening I8 and the other adapted to register with the tapered spreader portion 23 of a companion tray in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In other words, the length of the apertures 29, 29 is slightly greater than the greatest width of the member, so as to freely receive the member 2%! of a companion article of manufacture in the hosting of such articles for packaging, as illustrated in Fig. 4. It will clearly appear that the member 25) has a bevelled wall socket portion 38 tapered to receive the member 26 of the companion article.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the mounting card I i has, integrally with the side edges 21, tab or flap portions 3| which flare outwardly to a slight extent and these tab or fiap portions are adapted to fold around each of the compartments $2, 32 of the tray passing through the recesses 2 3 and apertures 22 and seating on the surfaces 25 and 23, respectively. The end portions of the tabs or flap portions 5i extend downwardly through the opening I8 and onto the lower surfaces of the mounting cards I I, as seen at and are secured in this position by a gumnied or Scotch tape or in any desired manner.

The flaps or tabs are arranged in the positions article;

stated above after a predetermined number of bobby-pins or other articles 35 have been arranged in each of the trays 32, 32 and these flaps or tabs securely retain the articles against displacement froin the trays and, at the same time, retain the cards ii on the tray members ill to constitute a part thereof. The articles are packed and shipped in this manner and are al o sold on the retail counter in the manner defined. In this connection, it will be apparent that the extended portion of the mounting card having the aperture 2% therein can be utilized as a means for hanging the tray for display purposes.

Considering Fig. of the drawing, here a tray H3 is shown which is identical with the tray shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive, and for this reason no further detailed description of this tray will be given. However, substituted for the card I I is a card which differs from the card ii solely in the lac that the flaps or tabs 3i are dispensed with. In other words, in Fig. 5, each half of the card will be equivalent to the base dimensions of the tray member iii and will have apertures therein, as at S similar to the apertures 2%, 29'. To hold the card 35 in place as well as to secure the articles in the tray portions of the tray member, a single strip or band of Scotch tape 38 or the like is employed and this tape envelopes both of the tray portions and the articles therein and the ends 35:, 39 of the Scotch tape are brought beneath and secured to the lower surface of the card 36, as clearly seen. With this type of construction, it is also possible to use a display or advertising card it! or" any desired shape or form, frictionall held within the apertured portion of the partitioned member of the tray and extending over the tray compartments in the manner indicated.

With my improved construction, it will be apparent that the articles of manufacture, when completely formed, are conveniently stacked side by side and one upon another. This is done by disposing two articles which are arranged side by side, in other words, with the walls id abutting and the articles in inverted position wit respect to each other, that is to say, one article will have its spreader extension 28 directed upwardly to pass through the aperture 29 of the other whereas said other article has its spreader member 23 directed downwardly and extending through the aperture 29 of the first named article.

Now in stacking the articles one upon the other for packaging, it will appear that the spreader extension 25' of one pair of articles will extend into the aperture 58 of the adjacent pair so that, in the final packaging, the tray portions of all of the articles at one side of the box will have their members 2!! directed upwardly and, at the other side downwardly. The terms downwardly and upwardly are used solely in a descriptive sense and not in the position assumed in the resulting wrapper box !2, as seen in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

Briefly stated, each pair of articles disposed side b back are interlocked and each pair of such articles ar interlocked with adjacent pairs disposed on opposed sides of the first named pair, thus when a complete series of pairs of articles are assembled, the entire group can be conveniently handled for placement in the final packaging box I 2.

It will be apparent that other types of arrangements of packings may be provided but, in all instances, an interlocking or intercoupling engagement between adjacent pairs will be provided. Furthermore, articles of manufacture of the kind under consideration can be made for the merchandising of various types and kinds of products, particularly where display in the merchandise in the resulting tray compartments is provided. In this latter instance, it is not essential that the articles be necessarily loose or freely disposed in the compartments.

After the article has been purchased by consumer, the card is removed from the tray member by withdrawing the flaps or tabs Si or removing the Scotch tape 38. This operation displaces the card from the tray member and frees the articl s for removal from the tray compartments. When such articles are in the form of bobby-pins, the pin can be moved over the spreader 26 to spread the pin sufficiently to be grasped by the hand for insertion into the hair. In this respect, the tray provides means for accomplishing an operation of spreading bobby-pins by a single hand, thus materially facilitating the use of such pins in placement in the hair.

From the foregoing, it may be particularly noted that the present invention provides an article and package created to provide, a dual compartnient for the storage of bobby-pins, so that the user advantageously pick-up pins with either hand from either side of the box without interference from the projecting Wedge; a pin opening projection projecting above the stored pins sufiiciently high to not interfere with same; an opener centrally disposed, so that there is little or no likelihood of the user toppling over the box when opening pins; cooperating wedges and sockets to prevent relative shifting between boxes, etc. The articles are preferably each provided with recesses 24 on the end walls and similar recesses in the inner walls H, H. The cards ll have tabs 31 extending upwardly along the end walls through the recesses 2% over bobby pins supported in the article through the recesses in the inner walls, then downwardly on said inner Walls and onto the lower surface of the cards. The tabs are secured to the lower surfaces of the cards by the strips 36 of Scotch tape or the like. It will be noted that the recesses 24 are sufficiently deep so that the tabs provide downward pressure upon the bobby pins supported in the tray. With this construction, a strong and secure holding of the bobby pins in the tray is provided.

laving claim as Patent is:

1. An article of manufacture of the character described comprising a card having apertured end portions, a tray-like member disposed upon one apertured end portion, said member having a central partition portion dividing the tray into independent compartments, the partition portion having an aperture opening through the lower surface of the tray and registering with the aperture in the end portion of said card, and means extending over each compartment of the tray and secured to said card for supporting articles fully described my invention, what I new and desire to secure by Letters in the tray compartments against displacement.

2. An article of manufacture of the character described comprising a card having apertured end portions, a traylike member disposed uponone apertured end portion, said member having a central partition portion dividing the tray into independent compartments, the partition portion having an aperture opening through'the lower surface of the tray and registering with the aperture in the end portion of said card, means extending over each compartment or" the tray and secured to said card for supporting articles in the tray compartments against displacement, and the walls of the tray and said partition being apertured to receive said last named means.

3. An article of manufacture of he character described comprising a card having apertured end portions, a tray-like member disposed upon one apertured end portion, said member having a central partition portion dividing the tray into independent compartments, the partition portion having an aperture opening through the lower surface of the tray and registering with the aperture in the end portion of said card, means extending over each compartment of the tray and secured to said card for supporting articles in the tray compartments against displacement, and said partition having an upwardly projecting contracted. member extending above upper edges of the walls of the tray.

4. An article of manufacture of the character described comprising a card having apertured end portions, a tray-like member disposed upon one apertured end, porti said ember having a central partition portion dividing the tray into independent compartments, the partition portion having an aperture opening through the lower surface of the tray registering with the aperture in the end portion of said card, means extending over each compartment of the tray and secured to said card supporting articles in the tray compartments against displacement, said partition having an upwardly projecting contracted member extending above upper edges of the walls of the tray, and a companion similar article being adapted to be coupled with the first named article by insertion of said projecting contracted portion of the second. article through the other aperture-d end portion of the card of the first article and with the tray of the second article in inverted position with respect to the tray of the first article.

5. An article of manufacture of the character described comprising a having apertured end portions, a tray-like member disposed upon one apertured end portion, said member having a central partition portion dividing the tray into independent compartments, the partition portion having aperture opening through the lower surface of the tray and registering with the aperture in the end portion of said card, mean extending over each compartment of the tray and s' cured to said card for supporting articles in the tray compartments against displacement, and said means comprising a pair of flaps extending integrally from side edge portions of the card and downwardly through the aperture of said partition.

6. An article of" manufacture of the character described comprising a card having apertured end portions, a tray-like member disposed upon one apertured end portion, said member having a central partition portion dividing the tray into a independent compartments, the partition portion having an aperture opening through the lower surface of the tray and registering with the aperture in the end portion of said card, means extending over each compartment of the tray and secured to said card for supporting articles in the tray compartments against displacement, said means comprising a pair of flaps extending integrally from side edge portions of the card and downwardly through the aperture of said partition, and means securing the ends of the flaps to the lower surface of the card.

'7. A device of the class described comprising a tray defined by side and end v a hollow partition joining ide walls and divi the tray into separate compartments, said partition having an upstanding hollow fingerpiece portion, opposed walls of the nngerpiece portion and partition having large apertur the hollow partition opening through the l suriace of the tray, and end Walls of the tray having recesses in alinenient with the apertures in said partition and fingerpiece portion.

8. A device of the class described comprising a tray defined by side and end walls, a noi ow partition joining side walls and dividing the tray into separate compartments, partition having an upstanding hollow fingerpiece portion, opposed walls of the fingerpiece portion and partition having large apertures, the hollow partition opening through the lower surface of the tray, end walls of the tray having recesses in alinernent with the apertures in. said parti on and fingerpiece portion, and said fingerpiece portion having an upwardly contracted end terminating in a blade edge.

9. A device of the class described comprising a tray defined by side and end walls, a hollow partition joining side walls and dividing the tray into separate compartments, said partition having an upstanding hollow fingerpiece portion, opposed walls of the fingerpiece portion and partition having large apertures, the hollow partition opening through the lower surface of the tray, end walls of the tray having recesses in alinement with the apertures in said partition and fingerpiece portion, said fingerpiece portion having an upwardly contracted end terminating in a blade edge, and means secured to the tray and extending over both compartments of the tray for securing articles against displacement from said compartments.

1%. A device of the class described comprising a tray defined by side and end walls, a hollow partition joining side walls and dividing the tray into separate compartments, said partition having an upstanding hollow fingerpiece portion, opposed walls of the fingerpiece portion and partition having large apertures, the hollow partition opening through the lower surface of the tray, end walls of the tray having recesses in alinement with the apertures in said partition and fingerpiece portion, said fingerpiece portion having an upwardly contracted end terminating in a blade edge, means secured to the tray and eX- tending over both compartments of the tray for securing articles against displacement from said compartments, and said last named means comprising a strip of Scotch tape.

11. A device of the class described comprising a tray defined by side and end walls, a hollow partition joining side walls and dividing the tray into separate compartments, said partition having an upstanding hollow fingerpiece portion, 01)- posed walls of the iingerpiece portion and partition having large apertures, the hollow partition opening through the lower surface of the tray, end walls of the tray having recesses in alinement with the apertures in said partition and fingerpiece portion, said fingerpiece portion having an upwardly contracted end terminating in a blade edge, means secured to the tray and excompartments, said last named means comprisa card arranged on the lower surface of the tray, members integral with side edges of the card adapt d to extend over each compartment of the tray and then onto the lower surface of the card, and means securing said members to the lower surface of the card.

12. A tray for merchandising and dispensing bob -pins, said tray being defined by side and end alls, a central partition intermediate side walls, partition dividing the tray into independent compartments, the partition being hollow and opening through the bottom of the tray, spreader member extending upwardly from the partition, said spreader having a contracted upper edge, end walls of the tray having recesses, said partition and spreader having apertures in alinement with said recesses, removable means extending through the apertures and recesses and onto the lower surface of the tray for normally retaining bobby-pins against displacement from each of said compartments, and said bobby-pins, upon the removal of said last named means, being adapted to move over the spreader to open the same facilitating use of said bobbypins.

13. In a device of the class described, the combinaticn of a tray, a pair of outer side walls on the tray, each side having an aperture, a pair of inner walls dividing the tray into a pair of compartments for parts, each inner wall having an aperture, a bottom to said tray having a recess between said pair of center walls, a card having a recess therein, a pair of integral tabs on said card adapted to locate the tray laterally with respect to the card and the recess therein and to be passed through said apertures in the side walls and the inner walls of the tray thence downv'zardly through the recess in the bottom and through the recess in the card for confining parts in the compartments, and said tabs being folded over and fastened to the back of the card to lock the tray and the card together.

NATHAN L. SOLOMON.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 13177241 Carson Dec. 11, 1923 1,757,475 Pratt May 6, 1930 1,897,652 Davis Feb. 14, 1933 2,226,237 Cooper Dec. 24. 1940 

